San Antonio SSC Indoor Volleyball Rules

Updated February 2014

SAN ANTONIO SSC LEAGUE POLICIES

TEAM ROSTERS:

There is no maximum number of players allowed on a team’s roster provided all players have signed the Team Roster and Waiver Form. It is the responsibility of all team captains to ensure players are in compliance with this policy. Teams have up until the third week of the season to make changes to their roster. After the third week, rosters will be frozen. Roster changes that require additional T-Shirts will be subject to availability. All roster changes must be communicated to and approved by the league office.

WAIVERS:

To be eligible to participate in the league, each player must sign the team waiver form. Waivers can be downloaded by clicking here. Captains are required to turn in completed waiver forms to a San Antonio SSC Coordinator prior to their first game. Players not present for their team’s first game must still submit a signed waiver form prior to participating.

Players that register individually agree to the waiver policy electronically, so there is no need to submit a separate waiver form.

PLAYER RESTRICTIONS:

All SSC participants must be 21 years of age or older prior to their first scheduled game.

Players that have participated in Division 1 Collegiate or Professional sports must be a minimum of two years removed from participation to be eligible to play in a similar San Antonio SSC sport.

Players may only be on one roster for any given sport on a given night, regardless of if multiple divisions are offered. Violation of this rule may result in game forfeiture by both teams.

The San Antonio SSC reserves the right to request a photo ID from any player at any time for any reason.

Roster checks will be performed by a San Antonio SSC Gameday Coordinator at the request of the challenging team. Only individual players may be challenged. Entire teams may not be challenged. The challenging team must provide legitimate reasons for submitting a roster check request. Challenging teams must report their intention to initiate a roster check to an SSC Official as soon as possible to ensure the preservation of playing time. Teams lose the ability to challenge a player’s eligibility after the first set, except in the case of a late-arriving player.

DYNASTY RULE:

Everyone loves a little competition, but one team dominating a league season after season can spoil the fun for everybody.

If a team retaining more than five players has won three championships in consecutive seasons for which they have been registered, the San Antonio SSC will have the option to, in its discretion, request that team to form two or more separate teams to promote parity in the league or withdraw their registration. That team will then have the opportunity to form two separate teams with each subsequent roster approved by the SSC.

SPORTSMANSHIP:

We are all adults, and the SSC expects all participants to act like it. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in that player being ejected from the game. An ejection may result in further suspension from participation in current and/or future SSC sports and events. Ejected players are required to leave the playing area immediately. Refusal to leave the playing area may result in a team forfeit and/or further suspension.

OVERLY COMPETITIVE PLAYERS:

All San Antonio SSC sports are intended to be recreational. Any player who is deemed to be excessively competitive and/or overly aggressive may be removed from competition at the discretion of an SSC staff member.

UNIFORMS:San Antonio SSC T-Shirts are your team’s uniforms. All players must wear the appropriate color uniform with the current San Antonio SSC front logo to participate. Past season’s uniforms are not permitted, even if they are the correct color. Any player not wearing the appropriate uniform will be sidelined for that game.

The San Antonio SSC T-Shirt must be worn on the outside of any jacket or sweatshirt worn during play.

UNIFORM ALTERATIONS:

Players are permitted to modify their uniforms in any way provided they do not cover up or obscure any of the logos printed on the shirts.

FORFEITS:

If a team is short the minimum number of players to play a regulation game, the game will be ruled a forfeit.

FORFEIT FINES:

If the forfeiting team is short the minimum number of players to play an exhibition game, a $50 forfeit fine will be assessed. This fine is transferred in full in the form of a gift card or voucher to the offended team who showed up with no game to play. Provided the fine is paid on time, the offended team can collect the forfeit fine from a San Antonio SSC Coordinator the following week.

Forfeit fines must be paid prior to the end of the offending team’s next scheduled game. Payment can be made to an SSC Coordinator by either cash or check made payable to “San Antonio SSC”. Unpaid forfeit fines may result in additional forfeits and/or suspension from the league. Teams with outstanding fines from past seasons will be barred from future registration in any San Antonio SSC sport or event until they are paid in full.

If game forfeiture notice is submitted to the San Antonio SSC via email (info@sanantoniossc.com) by 5:00 PM on the preceding day (Friday for weekend games), no forfeit fine will be assessed.

The minimum number of players to play an officiated exhibition game, and avoid the forfeit fine, is three.

DIVISION PREFERENCE:

Whenever possible, the San Antonio SSC will separate divisions based on playing experience and/or ability. In the event multiple divisions are not possible, all players will be placed into a single division.

Division placement for all teams will be at the sole discretion of the San Antonio SSC.

Any team that wins a super social championship will automatically be placed in the social division for the next season in which they participate. Top finishers from the previous season may also be moved up at the discretion of the San Antonio SSC.

Any player, or team based on the majority of their players, that is determined to be in the incorrect division may, at any point during the season, be asked to switch divisions at the discretion of the SSC.

PLAYOFFS:

Whenever possible, the San Antonio SSC will hold a single-elimination playoff tournament after the regular season has concluded. The number of teams to advance to this playoff tournament will vary from season to season based on team records and available venue space. The playoff tournament may be held on a day and time other than the normal day and time of regular season games.

GAME RESCHEDULING POLICY:In the event of inclement weather or any other event that causes games to be postponed, the San Antonio SSC will make every effort to reschedule all games. In the event of multiple cancellations, the San Antonio SSC reserves the option to shorten the regular season and/or the play-off schedule. Make-up games may be scheduled on days other than the regularly scheduled days of the week. Neither refunds nor pro-rated refunds will be given if the season is shortened due to inclement weather or due to actions taken by the venue.

FOOD & BEVERAGES ON COURT:

No outside foor or drinks are allowed in Factory of Champions or Elite Volleyball. There are plenty of vending machines but any outside food or drinks can and will be confiscated by staff.

DIVISION PREFERENCE:

The San Antonio Sports & Socal Club reserves the right to move any team / individual from one division to the next. Super social teams may move up to social, and social teams with a 0-6 or 1-5 record may move down to the super social league. Last season’s Super Social champion will automatically move up to the social league along with the teams that finish in the top 10% of the division. This format will help balance out the caliber of teams in both leagues.

Any player, or team based on the majority of their players, that is determined to be in the incorrect division may be asked to switch divisions at the discretion of the San Antonio SSC.

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL GAME RULES

POINTS AWARDED:

Win 2 points…Loss 0 points

START OF GAME:

Rock/Paper/Scissors will be played between the two captains, with the winner choosing to serve first or which side of the court to start on; best two out of three wins. Teams will rotate after the completion of each game.

PLAYERS ON THE COURT:

A team can have a maximum of 6 players on the court at one time (3 male; 3 female). The minimum number of players to begin a regulation game is 4 (2 male; 2 female). If a team competes with fewer than 6 players, the “Ghost Rule” will be put into effect. The team can play in any formation they wish, provided their relative positions are maintained with no more than 3 available front-row attackers/blockers. However, when the empty position in the rotation reaches serve, the opponent will be awarded a point and a sideout. If both teams are short an equal number of players, the ghost rule will not apply.

SCORING:

Matches are best of three. Teams will switch serve and side after the first set.

Prior to the first set, both captains will meet with the referee to discuss ground rules and decide serve and side with a game of rock, paper, scissors. The winning captain will choose serve or side to begin the first set and, if needed, the deciding third set. The other captain will have the remaining option.

A set, with the exception of the deciding third set, is won by the team which first scores 25 points with a hard cap of 25.

In the case of a 1-1 tie, the deciding third set is won by the team which first scores 15 points with a hardcap of 15.

Rally scoring rules shall apply to all sets. A point is scored by successfully grounding the ball on the opponent’s court, when the opponent commits a fault, or when the opponent receives a penalty.

TIME OUTS:

Each team is allowed one (one-minute) time-out per game. No carryovers.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

After each side out, players must rotate from the front right to back right position. Substitutions can ONLY be made at this point in the rotation. The substitute is now the server.

SUBSTITUTION PENALTY:

If a team illegally substitutes a player (not replaced from the right front position), that team will lose their serve immediately. All players must relocate to their original position.

GHOST PLAYERS:

Teams that are short players must designate a spot in their serving rotation for a “ghost player.” The space(s) is where the other player would play in the rotation if he/she were present. When the “ghost player” rotates to the serving position, the team will automatically lose their serve. If a team is 2 players short, they would play with two “ghost players.” Players arriving late may automatically take over the “ghost player’s” position at any time during the progress of the game.

BALL IN PLAY:

Points earned on a service made before the referee’s “ready for play signal” will not count. Server has 10 seconds to serve the ball after the “ready for play signal”. Teams will lose serve if player holds balls later then 10 seconds.

BALL “IN”:

The ball is “in” when it touches the floor of the playing court including the boundary lines.

A ball which hits the ceiling or overhead structure on your side and returns to your side of the court is playable.

BALL “OUT”:

A ball is “out” when the part of the ball which contacts the floor is completely outside the boundary line, touches any object outside the court, or touches the rope, post, net, antenna, etc., outside of the sidelines.

-A ball is “out” when it hits the ceiling or overhead structure, then goes over to your opponent’s side.

TEAM HITS:

The team is entitled to a maximum of three hits (in addition to blocking) for returning the ball. If more are used, the team commits the fault of “four hits”. The hits of the team include not only intentional hits, but also unintentional hits.

-A player may not hit the ball two times consecutively.
-The ball may touch any part of the body.
-The ball must be hit, not caught and/or thrown.

FAULTS IN PLAYING THE BALL: (SIDE OUT)

-Four hits
-Back row player spikes the ball in front of the 10′ line.
-Catch/throw.
-Double contact; hits ball twice or ball contacts various parts of body in succession.
-Illegal rotation (substitutions made anywhere other then the front-right line).
-No “prolonged contact” between the player and the ball, otherwise known as a lift. The contact should continue in one fluid motion and the ball should not come to rest at any time in that motion.

BALL AT THE NET:

-The ball sent to the opponents court must go over the net.
-The ball may touch the net, including the service.
-A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three hits, except the service.

PLAYER AT THE NET:

-A player can break the plane on a spike and a block, as long as you do not interfere with the opponent.
-A side out will occur if a player touches the ball or an opponent in the opponent’s space before or during the opponents hit.
-Any contact with the net is a fault, except when a player not attempting to play the ball accidentally touches the net.
-Any part of player’s body crosses completely over the center line located under the bottom of the net. (A players hands or feet may touch the line provided that some part of the hand/foot remains either in contact with or directly above the center line).
-When the ball is driven into the net and causes it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed.

SERVICE:

-No “jump” serves are allowed.
-When the serving team wins the rally, the player who served before, serves again.
-When the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and rotates before actually serving. The player moves from the front right position to the back right position to serve.
-No receiving player may leave his or her feet to block a serve.
-The server must not touch the end line or a “foot” fault will be called.

BLOCKING:

-A block contact is not counted as a team hit, and a team is entitled to three hits to return the ball.
-The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the one who blocked the ball.

PLAYER(S) EJECTION:

-General unsportsmanlike conduct towards opponent, referee, etc.
-Player(s) ejected will be suspended for the current game and the following week’s game.
-Any rules not mentioned above follow those of USAV

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